THE INSTRUCTION
To explore how femininity is taught through discipline, behaviour, and social expectation from childhood onward.
They taught me young
how to sit like an apology.
Knees together,
my hands folded,
the voice I can’t use ironed flat.
My skirt was always painted guilty,
my laughter too joyful,
my body is seen as a disruption,
before it had the chance to move.
to make myself neat,
to tuck every wild edge in.
Now,
I feel rulers in the spine,
corridors in the throat,
making sure not to break the rules,
stapled in my mind.
Some lessons.
Some lessons.
